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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP)

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Earl S.

01-14-2005 13:43:11




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Here in Illinois we have had some power outs so I thought I had better get my gen running.I read a post awhile back about how to flash your gen if it wouldn't charge. Mine worked when I put it away last year but it won't work now. So I did as the Gent said take a electric drill ,start gen,plug in drill, and spin drill in opposite direction it is switched to turn. It worked the first time I tried it.So I owe a big thank you to the gent and to this forum.Be carefull not to get caught in drill chuck. Earl In Illinois

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buickanddeere

01-15-2005 09:00:57




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
That is smart. Here I am trying to get a 9V battery across the fieleds when the residual magnetism is lost. On those generators where there is poor access. I've put a 9V battery in series with a 7W lamp and socket cut out from old Christmas tree lights. Then plugged it into the gen's 120V outlet. Not recommended however. The drill would have to be an old pelter or a cheapy without electronic variable speed. Wearing a pair of leather gloves to avoid a friction burn. Should the voltage rise and the drill take off faster than expected.

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Crabby Old Coot

01-15-2005 07:13:17




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
I know it is a pain in the A$$, but I just crank my generator up every couple of months. That keeps it ready to go all the time.



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Ralph - Ohio

01-15-2005 06:57:04




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
I was skeptical about this too so I hooked the AC plug of my old Black & Decker 3/8" single speed drill to a sensitive DC voltmeter. Holding the trigger switch and spinning the chuck produced peaks of about .5 volts and about 3 milliamps.



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JHesler

01-14-2005 20:34:07




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
Fascinating! Where does the drill get it's field flux from? The only way I see this working is if the drill has permanent magnet fields. Maybe all my drills are too old but I've yet to see one with anything but wound field poles. I'm skeptical. My guess is that your generator just finaly built up enough field from it's own residual magnetism and having the drill in the circuit provided a regenerative current path. The only other explanation I can think of is that the generator was producing some small amount of current and turning the drill "pulled" the current enough to get the generator field excited.

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MarkB_MI

01-16-2005 04:14:10




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to JHesler, 01-14-2005 20:34:07  
JHesler,

The drill motor no doubt has residual magnetism. A brush-type motor is for all intents and purposes a DC motor.

I suspect that this trick will work regardless of which direction the drill is spun, it's just easier to spin it backwards because that will tighten the chuck rather than loosen it. The alternator just needs a few microamps going through it to get started; the direction of current isn't important.

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JT

01-15-2005 07:35:24




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to JHesler, 01-14-2005 20:34:07  
Briggs & Stratton Portable Power products will tell you this has to be done any time you take the generator apart. This is their recomended way of starting a generator that has had brushes changed or armature taken out. When yout turn the drill backward, it produces a very small amount of electricity and this small amount is what excite the generator. Back when cars and tractors were using gnerators, anytime you change generator, or regulators you always had to flash the generator to get it to start charging. That was usually accomplished by shorting the generator somehow, I have forgot how to do it, been tooooo long for me.

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Jake 2

01-14-2005 17:56:22




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
How fast do you have to turn the drill motor?



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Earl S.

01-14-2005 20:56:29




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Jake 2, 01-14-2005 17:56:22  
I just grabed the chuck with my bare hand and turned the drill backwards and it took off in the right direction. My drill is a craftsman drill 3/8 reversible. Read Bobs post it worked for me. Earl



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JT

01-14-2005 16:01:24




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
Earl, I owe you a debt of gratitude, we have a genset that will not charge, you reminded me what we need to do to get it bakc charging. Thanks again.
Jim



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Bob

01-14-2005 13:56:09




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Earl S., 01-14-2005 13:43:11  
Here's the link I posted a while back, if anyone has a balky generator:



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Earl S.

01-14-2005 14:26:04




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 Re: Flashing Portable Generator (EXCELLENT TIP) in reply to Bob, 01-14-2005 13:56:09  
Thanks Bob!!!!! Earl



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